A soccer game on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol. (Luis Gomez Photos)

From Scott Leibowitz. Find Scott on Twitter @Lebodome. Email him at scott[AT]borderstan.com.

DC has a lot of unique qualities when it comes to the demographics of its residents, especially in the Borderstan area (aka completely dissimilar to the rest). One of the qualities that always caught my eye was the high variety of college alumni populating the area.

I mean if you got a degree in Political Science, the logistical move is of course go to DC and hope an internship turns into a job (boy, reality is a bitch sometimes). With all these people in the area, it has led to the creation of probably the most competitive league in the city, Capital Alumni Network (CAN).

The Capital Alumni Network

For anyone who was an active intramural participant during their college years, this is about as close as you will get to that feeling of competitiveness and serious play that you tasted then. This is not kickball or shuffleboard where heavy drinking is a part of league play.

The sports include 8 on 8 flag football, 5 on 5 full court basketball, full softball, volleyball and soccer. All of the sports have some sort of “# of girls required on the field” at any time to make sure it’s inclusive. There are also rules limiting the number of varsity athletes you are allowed, so the Kentucky team can’t load the court with their famous ‘one-and-done’-ers.

Now for those who might say, “Well I went to a huge Division 1 school and didn’t even like them that much,” you can actually join any team you want as not every school can fill a roster, so there is flexibility. I played on my brother’s college’s basketball team for the last two years and have had a blast.

Some schools have large alumni showings in DC due to proximity, but for others it’s a great way to organize and meet new people. The skill level varies from sport to sport, but I will say this is league is taken a bit more seriously, so if you are looking for easygoing afternoon activity, try the ski-ball league.

Overall, big fan of CAN mostly because of how official and how organized these leagues tend to be. Definitely worth a try for anyone out there.

Playoff Time!

So our local Washington Capitals snuck into the NHL playoffs and will be facing off against the defending champions and always tough Boston Bruins in round 1. As I have mentioned in previous columns, this is the best team in the city, and I am sure the bars in town will be great atmospheres to watch. Support our ‘Caps, and Rock the Red!

The Stonewall Bocce League will play games on Thursdays from March 29 through May 24 in Logan Circle. (Courtesy Stonewall Bocce)

From Scott Leibowitz. Find Scott on Twitter @Lebodome. Email him at scott[at]borderstan.com.

Thanks to global warming making this the third warmest winter in DC history, the warm rays and the spring activities are coming back soon. Not too many better ways to start it out then some authentic outdoor bocce right in the middle of Borderstan. Registration has just opened up for the Stonewall Bocce League in Logan Circle. Just because you aren’t playing kickball doesn’t mean you have to miss out on an outdoor league that involves throwing balls, drinking and casual fun.

Here are some of the details. Borderstan asked Eric Schwarz of Stonewall Bocce about the fact that the games are actually played in Logan Circle.

“We play in Logan Circle and have plenty of room. It is a lot bigger than it seems. In fact, we have about six games going at one time and use only one-quarter of the circle. The league is expected to grow slightly this season and we’re confident we’ll still have plenty of space.

Getting permission from Park Service was a process that started early and required a lot of back and forth emails, but somehow, we managed,” said Schwarz.

Not familiar with the Stonewall Bocce League? It is an “LGBTQ & Ally community-based, non-profit sports league that strives to raise funds for local non-profit organizations. Our league values each player for who they are and what they bring to the league’s community,” according to the organization. Last year, the league raised $2,000 for local LGBTQ charities.

The league is at night so they use glow-in-the-dark balls… clever. Check it out, enjoy the weather, and pick a clever, yet dirty team name.

League Details

Game Days: Thursdays

Times: Games start at 6:30 pm

Location: Logan Circle, one block east of 14th and P Streets NW.

Spring 2012 Dates: March 29 through May 24

Playoff Game Dates: May 19 and May 24

Teams Sizes: 6 to 10 players; 8 players recommended

Returning Player Early Registration: Monday March 5 through Wednesday, March 7 ($35)

New Player Early Registration: Thursday, March 8 through Friday, March 9 ($40)

OpenRegistration: Saturday March 10 through Wednesday, March 14 ($45)

How to become a team? When players sign up, they should choose a group to join or create a group. When a group reaches 6 players (paid and approved), the group will be promoted to team status. The first 18 groups to get 6 players become teams in the season. Groups that do not advance to the 18 teams will be placed in free agent status for selection.

Editor’s note: Borderstan.com welcomes a new contributor, Scott Leibowitz. In his own words: “Scott may not be the trendiest, but since age 8 when he realized going pro wasn’t an option, he has watched Sportscenter every morning and rooted for his beloved New York sports teams (despite being from Jersey). Schooled in Foggy Bottom, he plans people’s financial futures by day and enjoys his front lawn of 18th Street Adams Morgan by night. His father the basketball coach taught him his game, and he is always open for a quality discussion on the pros and cons of the designated hitter rule or anything else.

Hello, Borderstan! How’s it going? My name is Scott and I am new to Borderstan.com. I am here to bring a little sports and outdoor activities into your digital reading space. I am from New Jersey living in D.C., and working for a small financial services company from my room right on the 18th Street strip of Adams Morgan.

My goal is to make this column a mix of sports topics from Borderstan, D.C. and the rest of the world. The focus will be on Borderstan-area activities, including sport leagues, bars to enjoy games and good running routes. I hope to chronicle some of the things I see from my window, as well as a healthy dispensing of Internet links. Feel free to comment or follow me on Twitter at Lebodome.

Old Business Before New Business: I Love June

With the excitement and fun of fireworks, barbecues, and humidity, the time around July 4th is probably one of the best chunks of days on the calendar, especially as it kicks into the deep part of summer.